warning BMW 540i 1998 E39 Workshop Manual

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330-1 3
Rear Suspension
1 1 4 Check roll fold of air spring (arrows). Reinstall only if roll fold
is undamaged and formed correctly.
- To install air spring:
Check sealing O-rings at air spring inlet. Replace
if dam-
aged. Do not grease O-rings. Reinstall protective plug.
* Install spring above suspension subframe. Make sure ec-
centric lug at bottom of air spring fits in recess of
subframe
spring seat.
Reattach top spring mounting clips.
- Reattach air line connections.
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal.
Tightening torques
Air line connection
2 Nm (1 8 in-lb)
Air spring
to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (1 5 ft-lb)
Road
wheel to hub 120 510 Nm (89-F-7 ft-lb)
REAR SUSPENSION ARMS,
SUBFRAME AND BUSHINGS
A damaged suspension arm orworn bushings will change the
rear wheel alignment and may adversely affect handling and
stability.
WARNING-
Do not attempt to straighten a damaged suspension arm.
Bending or heating may
weaken the original part. Always re-
olace a damaoed susoension arm.
Rear suspension arm
components
1. Eccentric washer
(for rear toe adjustment)
2. Upper front control arm
(guide link or traction strut)
3. Outer swing arm bushing and
integral link
4. Swing arm (lower control arm)
5. Upper rear control arm
(wishbone)
6. Wheel bearing carrier
7. Circlip
8. Swing arm ball joint
9. Eccentric washer
(rear camber adjustment)

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[Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(sedan models)
CAUTION-
If working on a vehicle with compressed airshock absorbers,
disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore performing any repairs.
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
sus~ension Darts.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
Remove
ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut
(arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE-
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.

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Rear Suspension Swing arm, removing and installing
(Sport Wagon models)
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
CAUJION-
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electricalplug
beforeperforminganyrepairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under the spare tire in the floor of the
cargo compartment.
< Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
NOJE-
Vehicle will stand quite low
- If applicable: Detach air supply line from shock absorber.
Plug ports and lines to
lkeep out dirt.
- Model with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.
4 Working at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside coil
spring from under car.
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool
33
2 301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool
33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.

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330-1 9
Rear suspension1
Swing arm ball joint, replacing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension
parts.
- Sport Wagon model: Support wheel bearing carrier from be-
low.
CA
UTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the
shoclc absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the brake hose, park-
ing
brake cable and drive axle CVjoints.
- Model with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shoclc absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Sport Wagon model: Remove shock absorber lower mount-
ing bolt.
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
Model with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
located beneath a cover under
the spare tire in the floor of the
carao
comoartment.
4 Model with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres.
sure.
WARNING-
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened.
- Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.

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330-22
I Rear Suspension
s
4 If necessary, machine special tool 33 4 191 as shown.
NOTE-
Slotted end of special tool 33 4 191 points toward wheel
bearing carrier.
Press new bushing into wheel bearing carrier using BMW
special tools
33 4 191,33 4 192,33 4 194 and 33 3 333 until
bushing collar is flush with carrier (arrows).
- Install new snap ring
- Reassembly is reverse of disassembly
Use new self-locking nuts.
Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Tightening torques Integral link to wheel bearing carrier 105
Nm (77
ft-lb)
Quick coupling screw to air shock 2
Nm (18 in-ib)
absorber
Road wheel to hub
120+lO Nm (89c7ft-ib)
Shock absorber to lower control arm 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Stabilizer link to swing arm 65
Nm (48
fl-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier (C) 256 Nrn (189 ft-lb)
Upper rear control arm, removing and
installing (sedan models)
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place
jaclc stands under
suspension parts.

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330-23
Rear Suspension
Remove rear control arm:
Remove inner control arm bolt
(A).
Detach plastic wiring harness support (B).
* Remove outer control arm ball joint nut (C). Press ball joint
out of rear wheel bearing carrier.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Always use new self-locking nuts.
Malte sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Inner control arm mounting bolt must thread to rear (bolt
head at front).
Tighten fasteners to final torque only afler vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening
torques
Control arm to subframe (M12) 110 Nm (81 ft-ib)
Control arm
ball joint to wheel bearing 142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
carrier
(M14)
Quick coupling screw to air shock absorber
2 Nm (18 in-lb)
Road wheel
to hub 120-flONm
(89 i7 ft-lb)
Upper rear control arm, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
CAUTIOG
Disable air supply pump by disconnecting electrical plug be-
fore
perlorming any repairs. Pump is located beneath a cover
under the spare tire in the floor of the
carqo compartment.
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed for the purpose.
Place jaclc stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.
Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.
Worlting at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside coil
spring from under car.

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330-24
Rear Suspension
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool 33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools 33
2 302, 33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33
2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
4 Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorber prevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting iastenerprevents damage to the brake hose,
parl-
ino brake cable and drive axle CV ioints.
- Models with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shock absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Remove shoclc absorber lower mounting bolt

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330-25
Rear Suspension
Remove rear control arm:
Remove inner control arm bolt
(A). Push shock absorber
out of the way to slide bolt out.
Detach plastic wiring harness support
(B).
Remove outer control arm ball joint nut (C). Press ball joint
out of rear wheel bearing carrier.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
* Always use new self-locking nuts.
Maite sure
ail threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
Inner control arm mounting bolt must thread to front
(bolt . head at rear).
Make sure long lower shock absorber bushing fits in hole
in suspension swing arm.
* Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening torques Control arm to
subframe (M12) 110 Nm (81 ft-ib)
Control arm ball joint to wheel bearing
142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
carrier
(M14)
Quick coupling screw to air shocit absorber
2 Nm (18 in-lb)
Road wheel to hub
Shoclc absorber to lower control arm 127 Nm (94 it-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut),
removing and installing
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING-
Maice sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place
jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
< Mark location of inner control arm eccentric washer (rear toe

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330-26
/ Rear Suspension
Remove inner control arm eccentric nut and bolt (A)
Remove control arm ball joint nut (6). Press ball joint out
of wheel bearing carrier.
Lifl out control arm.
Installation is reverse of removal, noting the following:
Use previously made
marks to install eccentric bolt and
nut.
Always use new self-locking nuts.
Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
0 Have car professionally aligned when job is complete.
Tightening
torques
Road wheel to hub 120klONm
(89 i7 ft-lb)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to 60
Nm (44
ft-lb)
subframe (rear toe adjusting bolt)
Upper front control arm (traction strut) to wheel
65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
carrier
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (sedan models)
In case of damage to the subframe, or if a pressed-in bushing
is worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assem-
bly.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jack stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place
jack stands under
suspension parts.
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System
- Detach driveshaft from differential. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove lefl and right ABS sensors from wheel bearing car-
riers.
- Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.
- Remove heat shield from above driveshaft.

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330-28
Rear Suspension
4 To install, jack subframe into position. Install and tighten sub-
frame mounting bolts. Note that on each bolt, rubber-coat-
ed detent plate
(arrow) must be installed at rear in driving
direction.
Tightening torques
Rear
subframe to body (M12) 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
111 0 Tighten suspension arm and shoclc absorber fasteners to
502330036 final torque only afler vehicle has been lowered and sus-
pension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier 8 Nrn (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub
16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
- MI0 (Tow bolts) 70 Nm (51 ft-lb)
MB (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad
carrler (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bear~ng carrler
Rear strut to
wheel bearlng carrler 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120210Nrn
(89 57 ft-lb)
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
Incaseof damage to thesubframe, or if apressed-in bushing is
worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assembly.
In Sport Wagon models with conventional coil spring, lower
subframe slowly, making sure rear springs stay on spring
seats.
In models with air suspension
(EHC), disable the air supply
pump, deflate the air springs and disconnect them from the
wheel carriers before lowering the subframe.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-